The Head of Ministry of Economic Development has been followed closely for the last 1.5 months. However, some sources say it’s actually been over a year since the law enforcement started keeping their watchful eye on the minister.

The court authorized wiretapping of Alexey Ulyukaev’s phones as well as those of his immediate circle late in summer 2016, sources in the investigation bodies
told Life. The investigators also hacked the official’s email account. It was everything they heard and read that has become the grounds for Ulyukaev’s arrest. According to RIA Novosti, the special services had spotted the Minister long time ago, yet it has only been 1.5 months that they started to take the issue seriously.

"It is not clear whether they had initially been suspicious about precisely what he is now being charged with, but he has certainly been watched for over a year," the source said.

As previously reported by the CrimeRussia, the Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukaev was
arrested in the act by the Investigative Committee supported by the FSB's Security Department. Investigators clarified that Ulyukaev is suspected of extorting a bribe of $ 2 million from Rosneft officials. The money secured an approval for the company to buy state-owned shares of Bashneft. Interestingly enough, the Investigative Committee takes no issues with Rosneft considering the share sale legitimate.